The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-17
THE SAFE BLOWER AT EASE.
A Pleasant Time in Jail-Letters Called
Forth by His Arrest.

a FlGd>dlb 4lule IN JAl1-LSLO6TS Shl1cQ
Forth by His Arrest.
J. n. Warner, the safe blower. is spend
ing his time in Jail very comfortably.
During the hours in which the prisoners are
permitted to stretch their legs in the CORR
dor he walks about as unconcernedly as if
he was viewing the surroundings as a spec
tator. not as one of the inmates. He is
prone 10 dwell on his romantic marriage in
conversation, and, though he denied to
Sheriff Roman that he had mar
ried the Jacksonville girl, who
is his wife, he is fearful
lest the accounts of his adventure should
reach her and add to her already great mis-
cry. He and Robert Picrrat;. the forger,
have formed quite a strong friendship, COD
sidering the short space of time in which
they have been assO GATED, and they fire.
quently converse together, and each tells
the other Of his misfortune in being unjustly
thrown into prison by the unkindness of
that uncertain divinity. fate
The robbery with which Warner Is
charged and his arrest have called forth
more than one letter from interested per-
sons Mr. Caldwell, the clerk of the hotel
at Florence, has written to the local papers
and also to Sheriff Roman to say that the
credit of discovering the safe blower is due
not to the New York drummer, Mr..
Strathy, but 10 Mr. Bollinger, the proprie
tor of the hotel. He states that Warner
opened his valise and when he did
50 Mr.. Bollinger saw in it a dark
lantern, fuse and other suspicious ma
terials necessary TO a burglars outfit,
and that Mr.. Bollinger communicated
his suspicious TO Mr., Strothy, who caused
Warmers arrest Mr.. Caldwell believes in
scnptural admonition to render unto
Cesar the things that are Csesar's,' and in
this connection he thinks that the credit of
the arrest should be given Mr.. Bollinger,
instead of Mr.. StrOthy The statements
concerning Trial Justice Stoll have awak-
ened him to activity, and he has written
the following letter to the Charleston NetCS
and Courier.
Editor Nei0s aud Courier: beg leave to cor
rect the statement Of your informant as given
in your issue of Sept. ~, entitled The Savan-
nah Burglar
The burglar. Warner. was arrested on Sept.
o. and DAVIS Bros. were Immediately telegraphed
10 send for him and their stolen property, with
money for expenses. In obedience 10 their an
swer on Sept. :, and afterward TO hold the man
at FloIenes, he was not sent TO jail but kept in
the Florence p1iardhouse, and at the suggestion
of Hon. W. A. Br1nsOn, Intendant, and other
prominent citiz ems, kept him nder strong
guard tas II was feared that he had confeder-
ates lurking about here, day and night. the
guGrdhouse having no keeper, and from which
prisoners have often escaped
Sheriff Roman did not arrive uutil ;l5 Sunday
been kept five nights and four days, the delay
appearing TO nave been necessarily incurred in
getting requisitiOn, but not having been an
ticipated by myself or the Savannah parties be-
cause during the interval, and as late as Satur-
day | was wired to hold Warner and meet
Sheriff R3naB at the Florence depot with the
prisoner, recovered property and bill of ex-
penSeS. Knowing that under the fee bill only
40c could be charged to the State for
warrant and 81 for an arrest, / sought legal
advice from competent attorneys, who ad
.A FkrN l.. L.
Messrs. Davis Bros. for the recovery of the
stolen goods (Which, | will add amounted to
about S400.) and also disbursements that had
been necessitated. My legal counsel further
advised me TO charge at least $50 outside of
disbursements, saying that would be very rea-
sonable. Accordingly the bill presented Sheriff
Roman against Davis Bros, was on its face
made out against Davis Bros, and was in total
S45 Is, and specified items covering recovery of
stolen property, compensation of assistants.
guards, kilograms postage and all other eX-
Roman paid it without demur for them, as per
their kilograms to me to have my bill ready.
regarded this as simply private matter be
tween myself and Davis Bros, and 50 do my at
toTneys. | have heard no complaint from
Messrs. DAVIS Bros. Had the Sheriff declined to
pay the bill for them the Governors requsiton
would have been honored, at whatever loss to
myself, and my bill mailed to Davis Bros, who
could have paid or not, as they proved grateful
or the reverse. The receipt gave Mr.. Roman is
in favor of Davis Bros.
W. 1
oner 50 and afterwards received s. from Mr. J.
J. McCown, to whom the burglar had himself
sold his pistol, so that the SAVANNAH NEWS is
mistaken in stating that il was the burglars
pistol which drew in self-defense at the depot.
never saw or had the pistol but for a few
minutes the day after the capture. OF the said
IS pad 50 so, his board bill at the Central
hotel. before his arrest The balance Warner
Mr. j. j. McCown and others, to expend
for him for such meals as he wanted, con
tempuiously declining the risk of prison fare.
He was well fed by well-known caterer of our
town, and also got his whisky cocktails and to-
bacco whenever called for, which was frequent
He received a special midnight lunch, some
cigars and flask of whisky cocktails lust be-
fore leaving Florence. On the depot platform,
after Sheriff Roman had settled my bill against
DAVIS Bros, the burglar seeming 10 take sud
deu inspiration, violently demanded his money
aud clamorously denied authorizing me to ex-
pend it for him, a. above. Had he not so au-
thorized me he should not have received such
Injuries, but simply Jail fare.
Sheriff Roman declined to take any part i'm
this meter. but the ingenious cutlery of this
praciiced ald reTengSful craftsman attracted
quite crowd among whom | noticed several
pelsonai aud political enemies, who took sides
with the burglar, and, headed by William Cuirls,
night W ltchinsn at the railroad platform aud
clothed with the authority OF town policeman,
violently assaulted me, as Sheriff Roman states,
compelling me to draw my pistol (which bore
while e5corting the prisoner and keep them
back. Rather than be subjected to aspersion and
the further indignity of a boisterous contro-
versy, i went on the train to Sheriff Roman,
and handed MIN a sufficient amount to cover all
disbursements of the prisoners money. except
Central Hotel hill stating that would bear the
10 = out Of my own pocket rather than have a
dispute with burglar about dollars and cents.
Tue train was moving off when said this and
parted with Sheriff Roman cordially as | had
met him He did not once demand the money
of me.
shall demand proper investigation of this
matter By the Solicitor and the gr nd jury. and
from that authorized tribunal confidently ex-
pect ample vndcation. G. MCD. SToLL
FLORENCE, s. C., Sept. IA, 1885,.